10mm Steel vs Polymer

[JeeperCreeper]

I have been thinking hypothetically about getting a 10mm semi auto for kicks and giggles. I know the EAA Witness lines come in both steel and poly, 1911s in steel, and Glocks in poly.

My question is: What will be more durable in the long run, Polymer or Steel framed???

My thoughts are this...

Advantage Steel: Steel is generally stronger than plastic and has been used for centuries for things from guns to engine blocks

Advantage Poly: Poly is perhaps less brittle and might flex and absorb recoil vs crack like steel, "the branch that bends does not break" comes to mind.

What says you High Road?? I know there is alot of Glock love, but I'm hoping more of a material comparison as I favor the Witness line.

 

[Onmilo]

I blew up a 10mm EAA Witness.
I know of steel frame 10mm pistols suffering frame cracking.
I have not heard of this as an issue with, at least, the Glock 10mm handguns.

 

[jhb]

glock 20 i own helps absorb some of the recoil. feels softer with hot loads than the steel 10mms i have shot. might be my imagination though....

 

[Mainsail]

My 10mm collection includes a S&W 1076, G20SF and G29SF.

The 1076 absorbs a lot of recoil because it's heavy. The recoil impulse is more of a stiff push vs a snap like some of the smaller .40s or .45s, and pretty much straight up. The sights don't wander far from the target during recoil, and follow-ups, while not fast, are fast enough.

The G20SF has more torque and ~seems~ a little more violent, but recoil is manageable. Because of the torque, I find I need to recenter the sights and bring them back down on target, vs mostly straight down with the 1076.

The G29SF is similar to the G20SF except it's a little more violent.

Any would suit you well. The G20 is my hiking/backpacking gun (in a Bianchi M12 flap holster) due to the light weight. The G29 was bought to take its place but I haven't found a holster for it that's suitable for the pack.

 

[Elkins45]

I blew up a 10mm EAA Witness.
I know of steel frame 10mm pistols suffering frame cracking.
I have not heard of this as an issue with, at least, the Glock 10mm handguns.

I had a case head failure in my Glock 20 and it split the frame, requiring a trip back to Glock for a new frame. I had a case head failure (same ammo, I'm a slow learner) in my 1006 and although it blew the baseplate and follower out of the mag, the gun was unharmed.




So I guess there are pluses and minuses to either.

 

[GLOOB]

In the long run...

Well, if the gun isn't fired all that much and it's well cared for, I think steel will outlast the polymer. So if you are concerned with the value as a collector item for your great grand kids, than I would go with steel.

If you plan to wear the gun out by shooting it, I think you can afford to buy 2-3 backup guns. That'll be a drop in the bucket compared to what you spend on ammo.

 

[jmr40]

The Glock or S&W 1006 are the only two 10mm platforms I'd consider. Some 1911's seem somewhat reliable, but that is spotty. Way too many horror stories with the EAA's for me to consider one.

I have a Glock and wouldn't mind picking up a Smith one day if a decent deal comes along at the same time I have expendable cash. The Glock is pretty darn accurate and very soft shooting. Even Double Tap's hottest ammo is milder to shoot than 45's from my 1911's. The wide grip and Glock grip angle really tame recoil.

 

[breacher]

I don't think they make 10mm at S&W any longer so those pistols are getting quite pricey on Gunbroker. I'm waiting to check out the new Glock model 40 longslide 10mm. Plus it won't be long before Lone Wolf or someone makes 40 cal conversion barrels available.

EAA Witness? I haven't heard anything good about their customer service so that might be a risky bet.

 

[redbullitt]

I have shot my G20 a fair bit. It seems to be holding up just fine. The conversion barrels make it even more appealing for other calibers or standard rifling to take cast bullets.

It is my backwoods gun, and I am quite happy with it. Not small by any means, but not overly big or heavy compared to similar sized pistols.

Whenever I run the hot hot stuff I use a stiffer recoil spring. Normal loads or lighter ones I switch back the the regular setup.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Way too many horror stories with the EAA's for me to consider one.

Never an issue with the Elite matches or hunter series that I can find and also the reason why I got the the Elite Match. If my sources are correct they switched the slides and large frame size for 10mm steel are only used now. Time will tell. All reports are a few years past. Anybody got anything new? Ive been searching, can't find any. Also some mixup with slides and frames cracking. Evidently there was a problem with a certain slide style and they switched back. (squared and rounded)


For range? I love my Large frame Tanfoglio witness Elite match , sweet shooter, soft recoil, Darling trigger (adjustable). Mine is just the bottom rung/entry level of the match/stock/hunter grade Witness line of pistols. Still seems like more than a cut above the standard steel witness with finish and trigger. I only have a 100 rounds through it so far. Since I plan on shooting it plenty I should rack up a fair amount of rounds on the meter in a year or two.

 

[AustinTX]

My first 10mm will be a 6" bull-barrel SVI/Infinity Double Stack (2011-style) -- 15+1 rounds of 10mm (or 21+1 with an extended mag) out of a gun shooting 1.5" or smaller groups at 50 yards. Should be ready by early summer 2016. Can't wait.

 

[agtman]

I have been thinking hypothetically about getting a 10mm semi auto for kicks and giggles. I know the EAA Witness lines come in both steel and poly, 1911s in steel, and Glocks in poly.

Well, I'd skip the Tanfoglio products on principle so as not to have to deal with their importer, EAA, if the Witness you chose in either flavor suddenly went t.u.

FWIW, assuming you can find one in *lightly* used condition and for a price that doesn't rip the wallet off your keister, the S&W 10XX-series pistols are durable, all-steel tanks that are easy to shoot (and shoot well).

Old pic of my Smith 1006.
Ditched the Hogues for the factory grips, but it's still a great shooter.

 

[JonB]

I would love a S&W 1006 or 1076. Problem is they are hard to find and prices are climbing. But definitely built like a tank.

I have a G20 that hasn't had any issues. Fun to shoot and accurate as any other Glock.

 

[ATLDave]

FWIW, I have an EAA-imported Witness Elite Match in 10mm. It is extremely reliable and accurate. I use it with downloaded rounds for USPSA, and it runs as reliably as any Glock or CZ, and better than most 2011's! And I also shoot anti-(black)bear rounds out of it.

It's my second one. The first one I had developed a frame crack at the very bottom of the grip along the magazine well. I'm not sure how or why it cracked there, and it didn't effect performance, but I sent it back to EAA and they sent me a new one. They have a horrible rep for customer service, and I don't doubt it was well-earned, but I had good luck.

I will say the adjustable rear sight on the Tanfoglio Match guns is great until it isn't. They can come apart under recoil somewhat unpredictably. I switched mine out for a fixed sight.

Of all my guns, it's my favorite, bar none.

But I don't think I'd fool with the standard, non-Elite Tanfoglios.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I think the Baby Desert Eagle/Jericho would be a great platform for the 10mm given its heft.

I'd also love to see a Sig Saur X-Five All Around in 10mm.

Sorry, wishful thinking.

What a bout a Colt Delta Elite?

 

[ku4hx]

All things considered and using power levels from puppy poots right up through the nuclear option, my 1006 is easier to shoot than either of my Glock 20s once you get to oh, round number 60 or 70 or so.

If all I shoot is maybe a couple of dozen rounds there's not a whit of difference between the two platforms.

 

[ATLDave]

I think the Baby Desert Eagle/Jericho would be a great platform for the 10mm given its heft.

That's what Tanfoglios are, essentially.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I blew up a 10mm EAA Witness.

The rounded slide that was tried briefly proved problematic. They are solid otherwise.

I know of steel frame 10mm pistols suffering frame cracking.

Such as?

I have five 10mm handguns, 4 of them are steel. I do not shoot creampuff loads; almost always 180s between 1,250 and 1,400 FPS, sometimes 200's at right about 1,300 FPS.

None of them have cracked, and neither of my Tanfoglios have blown up.

 

[SDGlock23]

The only steel 10mm's I've ever owned were a 610 revolver and a Kimber Eclipse, but that said if you shoot a polymer 10mm enough to wear it out, you've got some deep pockets, even if you reload, especially if you don't.

I'm not a hardcore 10mm fan, but I do like it. The last one I had was a Gen4 20 but for all around use I'd say a Gen4 29 would be a tough option to beat for a do it all pistol, and would get one if I ever get another 10mm.

Steel might have some advantages, like possibly lower recoil (although maybe not) mainly due to them being heavier. If you don't want a heavy gun, polymer is the only way to go.